Ben John scooped a bargain from Lidl that allows him to save a massive amount on his energy bills – but he is also forced to permanently run a dehumidifier in the winter months
A man has credited a Lidl-known middle-aisle bargain for whittling his heating bills down to just £170 during the coldest time of year.
Ben John moved into a caravan six years ago while looking for a change – having decided that living in a house was making him “bored”. Ben, who lives in Bournemouth, Devon, traded his warm home for a much more difficult to heat alternative, meaning it can become extremely cold.
But the challenge forced the 38-year-old music student to think creatively about warming up during the cold winter months, and he settled on using a diesel generator to meet his heating needs. The generator alone cut his electric bills down to just £100 during the winter, and £67 for constant generator-run heating, but the item isn’t the key he credits for his rock-bottom bills.
Ben said that he manages to survive winter with minimal heating thanks to a £12 off-brand Oodie he discovered in the middle aisle of budget supermarket Lidl. He cooped the item alongside a host of dressing gowns and blankets he swaddles himself with to cut down on winter heating expenditure.
He told the Daily Mail that the extra layers allow him to keep his heater running “constantly” during the winter, saving him a “fortune” on his bills. He said: ‘The diesel heater stays on constantly and its cheaper than electric – if I had electric on it would cost a fortune! I always keep it on the lowest setting though, to save money – and layer up.
“Slipper socks are great because they’re nice and warm, and I have lots of fleecy dressing gowns. And then my ‘Oodie’ is like a big duvet – me the dog and the cat get all snuggled up on together in winter. And the electric blanket costs pence to run. If I keep the door shut, it can get quite toasty!”
Living in a caravan can also bring heat-related challenges, Ben added, with the student saying that he also has to tackle humidity when moisture builds up at home. He said he has to keep a dehumidifier permanently running alongside his heater to ensure his carpet doesn’t become mouldy.
The caravan can become so moist that he manages to fill up the dehumidifier’s three-litre capacity every day. Ben’s cost-cutting move to his caravan could prove wise this year, with Ofgem having recently raised its energy price cap – raising energy bills from January 1, 2025, at the height of winter.
The cap will increase by 1.2 percent from January 1, meaning annual bills surge from £1,717 a year to £1,738 – an overall increase of £21. The increase also comes as pensioners cope without their Winter Fuel Payment, which would be typically worth £300.
